JUNIE B. JONES, JR. AUDITION PACKET We're so glad that you're interested in being in Wild Horse Children s Theater s production of JUNIE B. JONES, JR.! We are very excited to bring the Northern Nevada Premiere of this show to our community! Some of you may already be familiar with the audition process. Some of you might be experiencing your first audition. Either way, we're here to help you prepare. On the following pages, you'll find everything that you need to know about auditioning for this great show! VOCAL AUDITION TIPS 1) A musical theater vocal audition is NOT "American Idol". This is an audition, not a singoff. It s all about storytelling. The directors aren t so much listening to voices as looking for who can tell a story with their voice, face, and body. 2) The directors have a problem. They need to put together a big puzzle and find just the right pieces to put it together best. They are not there to judge you they are really hoping that you ll be the right fit for one of the puzzle pieces. Your job is to help the directors solve their problem. So, there s no need for you to be nervous! 3) If you re nervous anyway, hide behind the character. Remember that it s not you up there; it s your character. Tell your character s story the entire time when you audition. Get involved in telling the story and don t spend time thinking about how your voice sounds when you sing. Make a strong, active choice for your character, and play it fully. We can't tell anything about your character if you don't show us an active personality. 4) Try to be aware of what your face and body are doing when you sing. Regardless of how your song sounds, if your face doesn t tell the story of the song, the audience isn t going to understand the story. Our brains process pictures before they process words, so if your hands are busy doing something unrelated to the song (for instance: tugging at the bottom of your shirt) the audience is going to think your song is about something else (a shirt), no matter what words you re singing! 5) Use clear diction. We need to understand every word that you sing. Stand in the center of the stage and sing loudly enough to be heard from way across the room, but don t scream. 7) When you are singing, you shouldn t look at anyone in the room -- especially not the director. You should look past the director at a spot on the wall that is at your eye level. Pretend that spot is a close friend to whom you are telling your story. 8) The directors may give you advice about how to read a certain line, or how to read the whole scene. If that happens, try to incorporate the suggestions into your performance, even if it seems odd or wrong. Everyone will notice how well you take direction, and that has a huge impact on whether
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR A DIVERSE CAST OF CHILDREN AND TEENS FOR THIS EXCITING AND ENERGETIC SHOW! Although, Junie B. Jones and her friends are in first grade, this show has been performed by adult theater companies in the past like the adult actors in The 25 th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee! We may do an older and younger cast in our production but all parts require strong singing, acting and dancing skills in the main parts. When you are rehearsing your songs for auditions, remember we are looking for strong character actors who have the energy and enthusiasm of a first grader!!! Character Breakdowns Junie B. Jones Junie B. Jones is a spunky, intelligent girl who is starting the first grade as our show begins. Determined and a bit impulsive, Junie B. finds herself at the center of many classroom antics. Cast an experienced actor with a strong singing voice and excellent comedic timing. Your actor must be able to balance Junie B.'s charm and precociousness so the audience cheers for her right from the start. Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: Ab3 Daddy Daddy is Junie B. s encouraging father who always looks on the bright side. Look for an actor who can comfortably portray an adult figure in a world full of young school kids. Daddy sings a song with Junie B. and Mother, so find a performer with a nice voice who can portray Daddy s kind heart. Vocal range top: D4 Vocal range bottom: A2 Mother Mother is Junie B. s no-nonsense mom. She can be tough on Junie B., but it is all out of love. As with Daddy, find a performer who can play a more mature person. Mother is a perfect role for someone with a good voice who can portray a supportive parent. Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: A3 Lucille Lucille is Junie B. s former best friend who has moved on to new friendships. Poised, put together, and probably a bit spoiled, Lucille controls and plans everything she does quite the opposite of Junie B. s bold impulsiveness. Cast a strong singer and confident actor in this role. Vocal range top: C#5
Camille and Chenille Lucille s new best friends, Camille and Chenille are twins. Just like Lucille, they are well dressed and very composed. These two roles are great for performers with bright energy who are also good singers. Remember, the actors playing Camille and Chenille don t have to look exactly alike so long as they are wearing matching costumes, the audience will get the idea. Vocal range bottom: Bb3 Grace Grace is another one of Junie B. s former best friends. She is not as calculated as Lucille, she has simply made new friends apart from Junie B. This is a perfect role for a young performer who can portray a kind and laid-back character and has a good voice. Vocal range bottom: C4 Mr. Woo Mr. Woo is the supervisor on the school bus. This featured role is great for an actor with a commanding speaking voice as he is in charge of corralling the Kids on Bus. Bobbi Jean Piper Bobbi Jean Piper is Grace s new friend. Bobbi Jean happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and unintentionally ends up on Junie B. s bad side. This is a nice cameo role for a new performer. Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: B3 Herb Herb is Junie B. s new best friend. An endlessly kind and charming little boy, Herb easily balances out Junie B. s more demanding side. Find a performer who has great chemistry with Junie B. Herb should be one of your stronger singers and a very likeable actor. Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: A3 May May is the teacher s pet. Eager to prove her brilliance, May does not prioritize making friends with any of her classmates, and they do not mind. Cast a performer who can tap into the humor and confidence of this vibrant role. Vocal range bottom: C4
Lennie and José Lennie and José are classmates and friends of Junie B. and Herb. These two roles are good features for actors with good energy and nice voices. Vocal range bottom: A3 Mr. Scary Mr. Scary is the Room One teacher. Unlike his name suggests, Mr. Scary is a supportive and encouraging teacher. This is a perfect role to showcase a mature and energetic actor. Though he has a few short singing lines, they could easily be spoken if the actor isn t a strong singer. Vocal range top: Bb3 Vocal range bottom: Bb2 Sheldon SHELDON is definitely not the most popular kid in class. Plagued by a myriad of allergies and a general clumsiness, Sheldon s good intentions often end in disaster. Cast a great singer who can bring out the nerdy charm in this endearing role. Vocal range top: E4 Vocal range bottom: B2 Shirley Shirley is a featured soloist in a few of the School Kids songs. This is perfect introductory role for a great singer who is new to acting. Vocal range bottom: B2 Mrs. Gutzman Mrs. Gutzman is the sweet old lunch lady, revered by all of the School Kids. Cast a mature performer who can capture her warm, grandmotherly nature. Mrs. Gutzman does not have to sing, so this is a great opportunity for a strong actor. Ensemble The Ensemble consists of Tickle the dog, the School Kids, Lunch Student 1, Kids on Bus, Student 1, Student 2, Student 3, Student 4, Student 5, Lunch Server and Cheerleaders. These are great roles for anyone who wants to be involved in the production! Gender: Both
SONG LYRICS Girls auditioning for any parts should prepare My Top Secret Personal Beeswax for the audition. Girls can also learn You Can Be My Friend which is a duet with Herbert. If you know this song, we may call you up to sing with the Herberts and/or sing this song at callbacks. Boys should prepare either You Can Be My Friend or Sheldon Potts Halftime Show. You will sing individually (a solo). We've posted these song cuts on dropbox. Each cut has two versions: Vocal and Instrumental. The vocal versions are there for learning purposes, but you will be singing along to the instrumental version, so MAKE SURE THAT YOU PRACTICE WITH THE INSTRUMENTAL VERSION. Pay attention to tempo (how fast/slow the song goes) and "entrances" (knowing when in the music you should begin singing). Don't try to imitate the vocal quality of the person singing on the vocal version!! Sing the way you think the character would express him/herself! NOTE: These cuts may run longer than 1 minute. Prepare the cut as written, but we may stop you at the 1 minute mark. TOP SECRET PERSONAL BEESWAX Sung by Junie B. Jones (All girls parts learn this song) I can hardly believe it! It s almost too good to be true! Mother went o the store and she bought me a book full of lots of empty pages I can do things to. If I want to draw a wiener sausage or a picture of a beautiful day Or list my fav rite colors and foods, Anything I want is A-O-K! Cause it s my Top Secret Personal Beeswax The whole wide world according to me. I ll call it Top Secret Personal Beeswax and keep it under lock and key. I ll take my Top Secret Personal Beeswax and put it in this diary And call it Top Secret Personal Beeswax: The Life and times of Junie B.!
YOU CAN BE MY FRIEND Sung by Junie B. Jones and Herb (All Girls and Boys Learn this song) Junie B: If you want to sit here, I suppose that that might be alright. If you want to sit here, I suppose that I will be polite. First grade makes you tired. Why not sit awhile? I will take the window seat and you can have the aisle. Herbert, you re a nice boy and I think that I will have to say You can be my friend, just for today. Herbert: I was thinking maybe, if tomorrow after school, you re free, I might feel like bowling. If you want to, you could go with me. Junie B.: Let me check my date book. Right now I ll look through it. Let s see here, it looks like tomorrow I could do it Herbert: If you can t, no problem. I was going bowling anyway Junie B.: We can make some plans Junie B. and Herbert: Just for today. SHELDON POTTS HALFTIME SHOW Sung by Nerdy Sheldon (Optional song for boys to learn) Can t you see me there on Friday as I lead the bugle corps. As my cymbals crash I will take a bow as the crowd begins to roar. Then the cheerleaders will jump and hop and wave as they shout, Hip hip hooray! Then I ll autograph some kickballs as I ride off on a horse. Then there ll be a great big fireworks display! Whaddaya think, Mister Scary? Isn t that a show you d really want to see? I will call it the super doper halftime show, starring yours truly, Sheldon Potts, that s me!
DANCE AUDITION TIPS The choreographer will teach you a small routine that you will learn in groups. Do your best with the dance steps, but ultimately choreographers are most interested in who looks energized and exciting while moving in time with music. Don't panic if you mess up the steps, put your feet in the wrong place, or forget what to do with your hands. Even very polished dancers mess up sometimes. No one expects you to be perfect. However, when you miss something, it is important that you keep smiling and keep going (again -- staying in character is vital in an audition)! A big smile and an air of confidence can hide a multitude of mistakes with your feet. Even if you do the steps perfectly, if you are not expressive, or if you look like you're really concentrating hard instead of portraying the mood of the character, the role might go to someone with slightly less dancing ability, who dances as a believable character. As a general note, make sure that you are standing in a place where you can see when the choreographer is teaching the steps. Frequently, people uncomfortable with dance try to hide in the back. It doesn't work. The point is not to hide, but to show what you can do! CASTING Casting a show is like assembling a large jigsaw puzzle. If you are not cast in the part that you wanted in this show, that DOES NOT mean that your audition performance was not of a good quality. It simply means that that character wasn't a good fit for you in this particular show. The "fit" decision usually has little to do with anything under your control. You may be too tall, too short, too old, too young, too high voice, too low voice, etc. etc. -- you get the picture! Similarly, if you auditioned hoping to be given a certain role and you are cast with a different role, that means that the directors needed you most in the role in which you were cast. Again, remember that the ENSEMBLE is considered a role. Being in a show is being on a team. Every single player on the team is vital to the success of the whole piece. NO ONE ACTOR is more important than any other actor onstage. There are no small parts only small actors! As you can see from the character breakdown, there are a lot of amazing parts in this show!!! We are excited to have you be a part of this Northern Nevada premiere! See you on stage! JUNIOR THEATER FESTIVAL Junie B. Jones, Jr. will be one of the shows considered for the Junior Theater Festival in Sacramento, CA in February 2019. Our Junior Theater Festival Performance Troupe is an elite group of 22 triple-threat performers who performed Beauty & the Beast, Jr. at JTF 2017 and won many awards. More information will be provided on your audition forms and during the rehearsal process. For more information on JTF, go to our website at www.wildhorsetheater.com.